EVER wanted to breed wild boar but weren’t sure how? Is your land perfect for brewing barley or do you dream of making money from mushrooms?

A new Agri-Innovation Project for Conwy will fund novel food production projects up to the tune of 100%.

Berries, poultry, mushroom production, hydroponics and aquaponics, wild boar and malting barley have all been identified as possible for Conwy.

“These are just examples – we’re open to ideas,” said coordinator Jo Hughes.

“Projects could involve farming ventures or new processing techniques and developing access to markets

“This is a really exciting project that will completely take away the risk for farmers or others wanting to start up.”

As well as payments for labour and equipment costs throughout the trial, producers will get expert help and advice.

Workshops will host speakers who have benefited from the previous Agri Food Initiative in Conwy.

They include Ceri Hughes who, with husband Alwyn and his brother Emyr, has set up Cae Melwr farm shop, Llanrwst, selling all their own produce.

“That help was invaluable,” said Ceri.

“Everything they arranged for us, such as workshops and visits to other food ventures, helped us in some way.

“There was lots of advice available and we took it all. We even went to the Food Technology Centre in Bangor to learn how to butcher a pig. That was a steep learning curve!”

Results of the trials, which will run for a year but may be extended to two, will be published throughout farming and agricultural networks.

The workshops are open to all with the first taking place from at Ty’n y Coed, Capel Curig, on November 25. Others: Dec 2 - Saracens Head, Cerrigydrudion; Dec 8 – Wheatsheaf, Betws-yn-Rhos; Dec 10 - Young Farmers’ Hall, Tyn y Groes, December 10. All are from 7pm-9pm.